For four years, it’s been known as a celebration of art and the creators pushing the scene forward. META Arts Festival is back, and for the second time it will be purely virtual - live streaming on YouTube, Facebook and Twitch.

Since 2018, META has focused on recognizing diverse artists and providing them a unique platform, allowing for an immersive experience unlike anything else. This year’s iteration continues to do that by featuring live virtual concerts, an interactive art exhibit with modern and digital artists, and panel discussions providing insight to the minds of local creatives within the community.

The festival runs from August 9th to 30th. It will be broken up into two portions celebrating both Brampton (August 17th to 19th) and Mississauga (August 24th to 26th).

Creative City - Interactive Art Exhibit (August 9th to the 30th)

Creative City: Seeing Peel through a creative lens will feature the work of six award-winning local artists. This online exhibition aims to showcase young talent from Brampton and Mississauga, as they recreate the future of art in Peel. All of the artists’ work will be in new and digital media, and the gallery will be accessible through your screen via our website. Bookmarks with QR codes will also be available at all Brampton Library locations, showcasing works from the exhibit.

On Thursday, August 26th, renowned electro-pop artist, Russell Louder will be closing out this year’s festival. Russell Louder (they/them) is a trans artist originally from Prince Edward Island, who creates danceable and poignant music for all to enjoy. Their latest album Humour was long listed for a Polaris Music Prize this year. The virtual concert will also feature performances by Deep House/Techno DJ Iris Santo from Mississauga, as well as multicultural Canadian artist Gisun.

Both nights will include special virtual after parties featuring DJ sets by producers Sofia Fly and HeyBombay.

Sandeep Prabhakar, one of the Founding Directors of ACISA said “It is always our endeavor to create an inclusive platform for advancement, support and respect for art, artists and the community”. META Arts Fest is organized by the Arts & Culture Initiative of South Asia (ACISA), which is a non-profit organization that curates other renowned festivals like Vibrant Brampton and V.A.S.A. Arts Festival. The event is proudly sponsored by TD Bank Canada!

The event is funded by the Canada Council of Arts, City of Mississauga, City of Brampton and the Downtown Brampton BIA. Community partners include Mississauga Music, Visual Arts Mississauga, Peel Arts Gallery (PAMA).

Go Beyond…. Go META.

For more information on Creative City, please visit https://metaartsfest.ca/interactive-art-exhibit/